A24 Buys ‘Pillion’ Starring Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling

A24 has bought U.S. distribution right to “Pillion,” a film described as a “fun and filthy romance with heart” and starring Alexander Skarsgard (“The Northman,” “Succession”) and Harry Melling (“The Pale Blue Eye,” “The Queen’s Gambit”).

Produced by multi-Oscar-winning powerhouse Element Pictures, “Pillion” — which wrapped earlier this summer — marks the feature debut of Harry Lighton, whose short “Wren Boys” was nominated for best British short at the 2018 BAFTAs, was nominated for a BIFA and had its U.S. premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

“Pillion” follows Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower letting life pass him by. That is until Ray (Skarsgård), the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, takes him on as his submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life, introducing him to a community of kinky, queer bikers and taking all sorts of virginities along the way. But as Colin steps deeper into Ray’s world of rules and mysteries, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is for him. Has he found his calling, or simply swapped one form of suffocation for another?

“Pillion” is an Element Pictures production financed by BBC Film, BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), in association with Fremantle, Picturehouse Entertainment and September Film who will handle distribution in the U.K. and Benelux respectively. The screenplay was developed with BBC Film and is based on Adam Mars-Jones’ “Box Hill,” which was the 2019 Fitzcarraldo Editions Nobel Prize winner. Cornerstone handles worldwide sales and distribution. ·

Element’s Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe are producing together with Lee Groombridge. BBC Film’s Eva Yates, Louise Ortega for the BFI, Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, Claire Binns for Picturehouse, September Film’s Pim Hermeling, Cornerstone’s Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder and Alexander Skarsgård are executive producers. 

Heads of department include cinematographer Nick Morris (“Wren Boys”), production designer Francesca Massariol (“The Strays”), BIFA Award winning costume designer Grace Snell (“The Souvenir”), hair & makeup designer Diandra Ferreira (“Bob Marley: One Love”), BIFA Award nominated composer Oliver Coates (“Aftersun”) and casting director Kahleen Crawford (“Lost Daughter”).

Melling is represented by Curtis Brown and Lucy Popkin at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Skarsgård is represented by CAA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.